COUNCILLORS have given a warm welcome to an ingenious solution to a chilly problem.

They're hoping the sweet smell of success will fill the air come December, thanks to a new sugar-coated grit for de-icing the city's roads.

At a council meeting yesterday, transport bosses gave the green-light for what they described as a "win-win-win situation".

The grit, known as Safecote, is designed to be much less damaging to cars and the environment than pure rock salt - and it should also work out more cost-efficient in the long term.

It is already in use by more than 50 local authorities across the country, and has been given the thumbs-up by boffins at the Transport Research Laboratory.

The Evening Press reported on Monday that City of York Council officers had seen how enthusiastic their colleagues in Bradford were about Safecote - and urged councillors to try it themselves this winter.

Councillors on the planning and transport advisory panel unanimously welcomed the idea. Safecote will now be spread on the city's roads this winter, with experts on hand to monitor the results.

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for transport, said the plan would save money and be better for the environment.

Coun Ceredig Jamieson-Ball said: "In fact this is a win-win-win situation, because if Safecote has less impact on the bodywork of cars it will be of benefit to motorists, who will have to wash them less frequently over the winter."

Safecote's makers describe the substance as "a dark brown syrupy liquid with a non-pungent smell". It is made up of traditional rock salt coated with a thin layer of derivatives from the sugar production process.

Although it costs more than plain rock salt, less is needed to spread, and the council's fleet of gritters would require less maintenance.

Updated: 10:13 Thursday, September 08, 2005